ANNIE Power could be offered for sale later this year.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old, who became the first mare in 22 years to claim the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March of last year, has not been seen in competitive action since following up in the Aintree Hurdle the following month.

Last week connections confirmed the great mare was in foal to Camelot, who won the 2000 Guineas and completed the English-Irish Derby double for Aidan O’Brien in 2012. He was narrowly denied in his bid to become the first Triple Crown hero since the great Nijinsky (1970) when beaten by Encke in the St Leger at Doncaster. Annie Power looked set for one final hurrah in today’s mares’ hurdle at Punchestown but Mullins reported: “I thought she worked very well last week, but she was just not showing any sparkle this week and I didn’t feel happy running her. That is the reason we are not running.”

A decision on her future is expected this weekend. Her owners Rich and Susannah Ricci have topped the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale for the past three years with Tarla (€170,000), Adrianna Des Mottes (€145,000) and Valyssa Monterg (€160,000). All three were in foal to Shantou when they were sold.